05/26/09 Gang Gang Dance/Soft Circle/PackFM & others @ Lehman Lawn, Barnard College New York, NY

It was a nice treat to see local psych dance rock group Gang Gang Dance up close and personal on a university quad. The earlier part of the schedule lulled a bit, so we crossed over to the Columbia campus and stumbled upon a sparsely attended folk festival.

05/23/09 Star ’69 (Dead tribute) & others @ private party, Queens, NY

Baller BBQ V: One More Saturday Night featured local Dead tribute band Star '69 and a bunch of my friends jamming in the backyard. Good times as always.

05/12/09 Chris Barron, John Popper, Mike Gordon & Joe Russo @ National Underground, New York NY

Acting on an tip from Phantasy Tour, I hightailed it to the Lower East Side and walked in just in time to see Joe Russo and Mike Gordon jam with Chris Barron of 1990s downtown jam darlings The Spin Doctors. Later on, John Popper of fellow radio-friendly jammers Blues Traveler sat in on the Doctors' ubiquitous "Two Princes." Not bad for a Tuesday night.

05/03/09 Kid Koala/Adira Amram @ Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY

Kid Koala, also known as Your Mom's Favorite DJ, is one of the best turntable technicians out there and one of the most exuberant performers to watch on stage. Adira Amram is a spandex-clad diva hilariously spoofing '80s pop.

05/01/09 Future Rock/Shout Out Out Out Out Out @ Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY

This was a solid night of quality livetronica downtown with both Chicago and Edmonton represented.

04/29/09 The Dead @ IZOD Center, East Rutherford, NJ

With the success of Furthur, this might have been the final run for the remaining members of the Grateful Dead, sparked after a one-off gig for the Obama campaign. After failing to procure a reasonably priced ticket the previous night, I joined my dad for a solid show abetted by Branford Marsalis.

04/29/09 • IZOD Center • East Rutherford , NJ

Set 1: Touch of Grey, Pride of Cucamonga, Crazy Fingers, The Music Never Stopped, Deal, Days Between, Casey Jones

Set 2: Sitting On Top of the World, Doin That Rag, Ramble On Rose > Lady With A Fan > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Terrapin Station > I Know You Rider

Encore: Man Smart Woman Smarter